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R e v u ed el ’ I n s t i t u td uM o n d ee td udéveloppement
public administration reform should also mean a reduction of regional as
well as district state administration. However, the ruling coalition did have
according Kňažko and Nižňanský (2001), in the half of its term of office,
diametrically opposing opinions on the transfer of state property to the
self-government units. Even the state bureaucrats (i.e. especially senior civil
servants) were being jealous of surrendering property related to the devo-
lution of powers. Some of the ministers (particularly those from left-wing
parties) wanted to retain their influence over that property, which was in
direct conflict with the principles set out in the Strategy of Public Adminis-
tration Reform. In this context, in September 2000, SDĽ utilized the right
of veto in order to stop the proposal on abolition of regional and district
state administration authorities with general competences and on their re-
placement by the regional or district state administration authorities with
specialized competences.
Evaluative report of the European Committee consequently criticized the
government in November 2000 due to fact that an approbation of concrete
acts associated with public administration reform as well as approval of Act
on Civil Service were put off (Kling and Nižňanský, 2001, p. 208).
The government agreed, during its special session on 1 April 2001, on two
law drafts in regard to establishment of regional self-government units and
their bodies. The government approved a decision on creation of 12 parallel
regional units and bodies – 12 regional state administrative authorities and
12 regional self-government units, i.e. 12 + 12 model (although SDĽ did not
support this variant, it did not use the right of veto). Although there existed
quite a large resistance against this model from the side of some political
subjects, for instance Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia
(ZMOS) also preferred the mentioned government proposal declared in the
official public statements presented by its representatives. However, these
drafts were not (on 4 July 2001) supported during the parliamentary dis-
cussion on them by all political subjects of a ruling coalition (the left-wing
parties, i.e. SDĽ and the Party of Civic understanding (SOP), did not vote
on their approval in the proposed versions), and therefore their approved
versions varied from proposed ones. Finally NRSR approved three impor-
tant acts that were influenced by the mentioned events: Act No. 302/2001
Coll. of Laws on Self-Government of the Superior Territorial units (the
Self-Government Regions); Act No. 303/2001 Coll. of Laws on Bodies of
Self-Government Regions Election and on Completion of Civil Court Rule;
Act No. 416/2001 Coll. of Laws on Some Competences Devolution from
State Administration Bodies on the Communities and Superior Territorial
units. The most unaccountable point linked with political activities concer-
ning approbation of these acts was distinct, focusing on regional division of
the Slovak territory instead of a complex appraisal of quality of this part of
public administration reform.
o
RIMD–n 4–2013
R e v u ed el ’ I n s t i t u td uM o n d ee td udéveloppement
public administration reform should also mean a reduction of regional as
well as district state administration. However, the ruling coalition did have
according Kňažko and Nižňanský (2001), in the half of its term of office,
diametrically opposing opinions on the transfer of state property to the
self-government units. Even the state bureaucrats (i.e. especially senior civil
servants) were being jealous of surrendering property related to the devo-
lution of powers. Some of the ministers (particularly those from left-wing
parties) wanted to retain their influence over that property, which was in
direct conflict with the principles set out in the Strategy of Public Adminis-
tration Reform. In this context, in September 2000, SDĽ utilized the right
of veto in order to stop the proposal on abolition of regional and district
state administration authorities with general competences and on their re-
placement by the regional or district state administration authorities with
specialized competences.
Evaluative report of the European Committee consequently criticized the
government in November 2000 due to fact that an approbation of concrete
acts associated with public administration reform as well as approval of Act
on Civil Service were put off (Kling and Nižňanský, 2001, p. 208).
The government agreed, during its special session on 1 April 2001, on two
law drafts in regard to establishment of regional self-government units and
their bodies. The government approved a decision on creation of 12 parallel
regional units and bodies – 12 regional state administrative authorities and
12 regional self-government units, i.e. 12 + 12 model (although SDĽ did not
support this variant, it did not use the right of veto). Although there existed
quite a large resistance against this model from the side of some political
subjects, for instance Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia
(ZMOS) also preferred the mentioned government proposal declared in the
official public statements presented by its representatives. However, these
drafts were not (on 4 July 2001) supported during the parliamentary dis-
cussion on them by all political subjects of a ruling coalition (the left-wing
parties, i.e. SDĽ and the Party of Civic understanding (SOP), did not vote
on their approval in the proposed versions), and therefore their approved
versions varied from proposed ones. Finally NRSR approved three impor-
tant acts that were influenced by the mentioned events: Act No. 302/2001
Coll. of Laws on Self-Government of the Superior Territorial units (the
Self-Government Regions); Act No. 303/2001 Coll. of Laws on Bodies of
Self-Government Regions Election and on Completion of Civil Court Rule;
Act No. 416/2001 Coll. of Laws on Some Competences Devolution from
State Administration Bodies on the Communities and Superior Territorial
units. The most unaccountable point linked with political activities concer-
ning approbation of these acts was distinct, focusing on regional division of
the Slovak territory instead of a complex appraisal of quality of this part of
public administration reform.
o
RIMD–n 4–2013
